Control device



Nov. 9, 1943. c. F. RoBBlNs ETAL 2,333,888

CONTROL DEVICE Filed Ju1y`24. 1941 s sheets-sheet 1 Nov. 9, 1943. c. F.RoBBlNs ETAL 2,333,888

CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 24, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NOV. 9, 1943. C, F,ROBBlNS ETAL' 2,333,888

CONTROL DEVICE Filed July 24, 1941 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 9,1943 CoNraoL DEVICE` Clyde F. Robbins, Milwaiikee, and Edwin W; Seeger,Wauwatosa, Wis.,assignors'to Cutler- Hammer, Inc., Milwa of Delawarekee, Wis., a `corporation Application July 24, 1941, Serial No. 403,886

` s claims. wml-.142)

This invention relates to control devices, and is particularlyapplicable to electromagnetic control devices for effecting a givencontrol Aoperation in response to-a predetermined number of currentimpulses.

The invention has among its objects'to provide an improvedelectromagnetically operated ratcheting mechanism for use in controldevices of the aforesaid character which is compact and rugged inconstruction and exceedingly positive and reliable in operation.

Another object is to provide a ratcheting mechanism of the aforesaidcharacter having readily adjustable means associated therewithforselecting and indicating the number of current impulses required toeffect a given control operation.

Another object is to provide a ratcheting mechanism of the aforesaidcharacter having improved resetting means associatedtherewith.

Various other objects and advantages of the invention will hereinafterappear.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the inventionwhich will now be described, it being understood that variousmodifications may be made in the embodiment illustrated withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, f

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of a control device embodying theinvention with portions of the device broken away and shown in section.;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 2--2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view similar to that shown in Fig. 1illustrating the resetting mechanism of the 'device in tripped position;

Fig. 4 is a side elevational view of the device shown in Fig. 1 withportions thereof broken away and shown in section;

Fig; 5 is a fragmentary sectional viewtaken substantially on line 5-5 ofFig. 2; and

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the device shown inFig.1.

Referring to Fig. l, the same illustrates an electromagneticallyoperated ratcheting mechanism l including a ratchet wheel 2 which isrotatable in a clockwise direction into a given angular position tooperate a switch 3 shown in Fig. 5. Ratchet Whee1`2 has a` plurality ofequally spaced teeth 4 formed on the periphery thereof which are shapedto provide radial faces llato be engaged by an operating pawl 5 and aholding pawl 6, andsaid ratchet wheel is biased to move in a`counterclockwise directionby a spring `l (Figure v2) into apredetermined home position which is determined by the setting of anadjust- .able stop mechanism 8 shown in Figs. v'2, 4 and 6. Pawl 511soperable'bya motor magnet 9 'to effect step by `step movement of ratchetwheel 2 in a clockwise direction, and-upon displacement of said ratchetwheel out of its -home'position pawl 6 acts to prevent return movementthereof under the action of `spring Yl. Pawls 5 and 6 are bothreleasable fromvratchet wheel 2 either` by trip magnet l0 or bya manualreset lever H to permit resetting of said ratchet wheel in its homeposition under the action of spring l.

More specifically,l the ratcheting mechanism I and switch 3 are mountedupon the rear face of -a front insulating panelv I2.- lAs shown in Fig'.2, ratchet wheel 2l -is fixed tol a shaftA i3 which is rotatablysupported within a bearing member Ill mounted within lan opening inpanel l2. The motor magnet 9 and tripping magnet I0 are arranged abovethevratchetl wheel 2 and each' of said magnets is provided with ahorizontally disposed U-shaped core-member, l5 having an operatingwindingv |16 mounted-upon the upper leg thereof. Also each of saidmagnets is provided with a vertically disposed armature member il havinga tail piece I8 on the lower end thereof which is pivotally mounted-upon a pin "i9 carried by the lower leg of its associatedfcore memberl5. The core members l5 of magnets 9 and I0 are arrangedin opposedrelation and are fixed to opposite sides .ofabracket 20 which is secured`to the rear face of insulating panel 5|2.

' As shown in Fig. 1, the pawls 5 and 6- are larranged to the left ofratchet Wheel 2 and las shown in Fig. 4, pawl 5 is iixed to the vbightportion of an inverted U-shaped lever 2|, while' pawl 6 is arrangedabove pawl 5 and is xed to the bight portion of a U-shaped lever 22.'The tail piece I8 associated with armature Il of inotor magnet 9 has aninclined downwardly extending arm 23 fixed thereto and the. open end oflever 2l is pivotally' connected to the. lower end of said arm by a pin24. Y The `open end of lever 22 is pivotally mounted upon the pivot pinI9 associated with trip magnetl I. A pair of springs 25-25 are locatedon opposite sides of leversf2l and 22 and the upper ends of said springsare connected to aA pin 26 carried by lever 22, while the lower endsthereof are connected to a pin 2l carried by lever 2l. l The springs 25act to bias levers 2| and 22toward the right to hold their associatedpawls '5 and 6 in engagement with theperiphery of ratchet Awheel 2. Saidspr-ingsalso act-to normally holdtheloWer spring end of arm 23 inengagement with a screw stop 28 which is adjustably mounted uponabracket t 29 fixed to the rear face of panel I2.

Upon energization of the motor magnet 9 the amature I1 associatedtherewith islmoved into attracted position and arm 23 and lever 2| aremoved from the full line position to the dotted line position.:illustrated in Figqfl against-y the action of springs/25 to effectdownward movement of pawl over the ratchet tooth 4 located immediatelybelow said pawl. During downwardmovement of pawl 5 into its dotted lineposition,

ratchet wheel 2 is held against counterclockwise rotation by engagementof. pawl hwith .the radial f face of the ratchet tooth-fllloeatedfabovesaid I pawl. Upon deenergizatiox'rotmotor magnet itsassociated armature I1 is released and arm 23 and lever 2| are returnedto thefull line positionv illustrated in Fig. 1 under the action ofsprings 25. During return of lever 2| to its full line position pawl-5engages theratchet toothdlocated thereabove to '.eiect advancefof-ratchetwheel-Z -in .a clockwise adirection. As- .is gapparent,adjustment of screw stop.2 8:varies they degree of deenergisationofmotorfrnagi1e t9 .and-said stop is so :adjusted that `the ratchet wheel2 is `advanced one tooth in a clockwise directionduring return .of pawl5 to its full v-lineposition :Itis thus 'tap- ,parent thatenergizationfof motor magnet r9 by successive current impulses effectstoothrbyftooth advance .of ratchet|wheel-2 in a'clockwise `directionagainst theaction ci` spring 1. M1

As hereinbefore `stated, ratchet wheel :2 is

biased nby spring 1 -toyrneve toward apredeter- Y mined home Aposition.whichfis y determined fby the setting of an adjustablestcprmechanismgfand Aupon displacement of said .ratchet -wheelf out `:ofhomel position the: same isresettable in 'suchposition` by the tripmagnet.V ior by the manualireset.,

lever` II. vAs shown in. Fig. 1, they tail; piece -I8 associated withthe Aarmature, of ktrip-magnet I0 has a downwardly-extendingplate30fiixed thereto which is locatedto'the rightzof thebight portions of levers 2| `and 22 and isnormally held out ofengagement therewith. Upon movement of amature I1 off trinimagnet I0into fits attracted position plate- 8|! engages `the Lbight- `por .tionsof levers.2 Ira-nd 22 to move said levers irom the position l shown inlis., l .inici-.the DDSitiOn shown in Eig. :3 to-merebyfjefiect.disengagement of paw1s-5 and- 6iromtheteethlof .ratchetwheel 2. Thus upon energization of .t r.ip-.magnet fl 4ratchet Awheel. 2is released .to-permit :resetting positionunder theaction of thereof inhome As shown .in Fig. 4, ,the manualreset :lever Il kis mounted withinan externallyV threaded bushing 3| which is V`securedwithinga'n-openingin .intermediate -its endsupon: af horizontally disposedpivotpin 3l carried by :bushing 31| wand :the inner end of saidleveris,\located' immediately below the lowerend of .armature member 1 I1 oftrip magnet I 0 while theirontendcf saidslever t l .is accessibleVformanual operation tromthe iront `of insulating-.panel I2. Leverd Lisnormally held bylglavlty in the `position shown :in Fig. @lr-:andthefront end thereof fis movable downwardly to move armature I1 of; tripmagnet III and 4its associated plate into the position shown in Fig.3;ato ,permit resetting .of -ratChetwwheel 2 1in, homegposition .underthe actionr of spring i1. Y, 1

Lever 2| has lai verticallydisposed cam .35 associated`therevvit-h'fwliich .prevents over- .shown inii'g.A ljcam member"recess31 fcfrmedon the'leithand side 'thereof for 2,333,888 f i Y ntravel of ratchet wheel 2 due to inertia upon upward movement of pawl 5into the full line position shown in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 1 said cammember is located to the left of lever 2| and the upper end thereof ispivotally connected to the tail piece I8 associated with the armature oftrip magnet I0 b a pin 36. Also as lasartangular receiving a square stopmember 38 which is adjustably mounted upon the rear face of panel I2-and the right hand side of said cam member is shaped to provide acamsurface having an ln- `fclined face 39 and avertically disposed iace 40.A-s'pring'll factsffto bias cam member 35 down- -wardlyand toward thestop member 38.

Cam member is normally held in the positionshown in'Fig. 1 against theaction oi spring 4I byV engagement of stop member 38 within the recess31'. The inclined face 39 on cam member 35 permits vmovement Lof lever2| toward the-left YYwliexi-tlie same `is movedffdorgnwaldly to. move:

pawl 54 Yfrom .the fulmine pesitionto. l,the dotted line Apositionshown-rin. Y However. upon return of lever 2| and its associatedgpawl I5to full line position show-n in- I the iene 40 fon` cam `.member 85 actsto llock said lleverand itsassociated pawl against movement -towardgtheleft out.

of saidiull line positomto thereby prevent over- .travel fof.ratchetgwheelfZ. :lis`- shown in Fig. 3 upon energization of trip magnetVIlcam member Vlli is movedfu-pwardlyfand tkesurtace 40 thereof is thenlocated above lever iito'permit release'of vpawl 5 fromratohet 2V by )l.The .switch mamma in` Pig. s lincludes pair i 4of stationary contacts-Mland *Stand a cooperating bridging contact 46. Contacts 44 andlil-are.mounteduponfan base ,41l whichis-.se-

l.curedto the rear face of panel-|2 and bridging Contactisyieldinglygmoimtedfupon an operati ing tpn 48 which isslidablyfmpported ywithin an f opening in said-base.--;,QperatnsMis-nor- Wmally -neld -infthe position shown by afspring 49 andy ismovable' inwardly .against the action of said spring to-mdvefbridgingvooatactg into en- .gagementgwith its associated staionargy conto/cts kMand'45. VBin4,3,isoperable byifvan insulating arm 50 which is securedvtovslyliftpl. by aseaew 5I and is also secured to therearace of ratchetywheel 2f-byagscrewv2. i0 has mfad-jimtable screw' stop 5 3' mountodmon.the freefend thereof and upon stepubyfstep fadvanceaf ratchet wheel 2intofa givenflimit againstfthe action of spring 1V said stop engages theoperating; pin .48 to move bridging contantiv 46 into. f-enssment withSta- Ationary contacts: `and I5.

.As-shown 'in Fig. 2, spring iisoffapiral form c and the puter.: endythereof :is attached to a pin -54 (Fig. 5) .mountedyfimonftheswitchoperating arm 50 while the inncrfmd thereof isheld within a ,slot .55(Eig. 2) ,providedsnn Sthe vouter surface in :Figs 2. and'` 6comprises-fa. leverilexed tog the front end Y of shaft L .I3.xandanidustahle `circular dial l6 I havinga stop imeunted .upon thevfront Lace thereof tor engaging lever. in

-F.`\g.f2, diallais-:adjuatablyisimported upon the v front Vendof;.bearinj :Hand :as Ashown:` in Figa A and 6. panel i l2 `hamacafscrewz umountedthereon which carries a thumb nut 64 for clamping saiddial against the front face of said panel to hold the same in adjustedposition. Panel I2 also has an indicating member 65 mounted thereonwhich is located to one side of dial 6I and is provided with a V-shapednotch 66 on the side adjacent said dial.

Ratchet wheel 2 is normally held in a predetermined home position byengagement of lever 60 with the stop 62 associated with dial 6I and asis apparent such home position is determined by the angular setting ofsaid dial. Upon step by step operation of ratchet wheel 2 by the motormagnet 9 lever 60 is moved in a counterclockwise direction (Fig. 6) awayfrom the stop 62 toward the indicating member 65. Indicating member 65is so located that when lever 60 is moved into alignment with the Vnotch 66 the stop 53 on operating lever 50 engages the switch operatingpin 48 to move bridging contact 46 into engagement with its cooperatingstationary contacts 44 and 45. It is thus apparent that the angularsetting of dial 6| determines the number of successive operations ofmotor magnet 9 which are required to move the ratchet wheel r2 from homeposition into the limit wherein switch 3 is operated. Dial 6l isprovided with a zero marking corresponding to the position of lever 60when the same is in engagement with stop 62. Said dial is alsoprovidedwith graduations which extend in a counterclockwise directionfrom said zero position, said graduations being spaced to correspond tothe spacing of the teeth 4 on ratchet wheel 2. Thus the graduation ondial 6| which registers with the V notch 66 indicates the number ofsuccessive operations of motor magnet 9 which are required to moveratchet wheel 2 from home position into its switch closing position.Also the position of lever 60 on dial 6| indicates at all times thenumber of operations which have been counted. By loosening the thumb nut64 and holding lever Il in position to disengage the pawls and 6-fromratchet wheel 2 the dial 6I and lever 60 may be readily adjusted toselect the number of successive operations which are required to effectoperation of switch 3.

As is apparent, the above described device is capable of being used inconnection with machines of various types to count successive operationsof the machine and to provide a given control effect upon counting of aselected number of operations. Also the trip magnet l0 may be controlledto effect automatic resetting of the device upon counting of a selectednumber of operations.

What we claim as new and Letters Patent is:

l. In a mechanism for effecting operation of a control device inresponse to a selected number of power impulses, in combination, aratchet member movable in one direction into a given operating limit toeiect operation of the control device and biased to move in an oppositedirection into a selected home position, means responsive to successivepower impulses to effect step by step movement of said ratchet memberaway from its selected home position toward said given operating limit,said means including an actuating pawl biased toward a given normalposition and movable out of and into such position under the action of apower impulse to advance said desire to secure by ratchet member towardsaid given operating limit, an element for locking saidactuating pawlupon return thereof to normal position to prevent overtravel of saidratchet member, a holding pawl engaging said ratchet member to retainthe same against return movement upon advance thereof away from homeposition, `and a single trip element for releasing said locking elementand for moving said actuating pawl and said holding pawl out ofengagement with said ratchet mem-ber for resetting of said ratchetmember in home position.

2. In a mechanism for effecting operation of a control device inresponse to a selected number of power impulses, in combination, aratchet member movable in one direction into a given operating limit toeffect operation of the control device and biased to move in an oppositedirection into a selected home position, means responsive to successivepower impulses to effect step by step advance of said ratchet memberaway from its selected home position toward said given operating limit,said means including an actuating pawl biased toward a given normalposition and movable out of and into such position under the action of apower impulse to advance said ratchet member toward said given operatinglimit, an element for locking said actuating pawl upon return thereof tonormal position to prevent overtravel of said ratchet member, a holdingpawl engaging said ratchet member to retain the same against returnmovement upon advance thereof away from home position, a trip mechanismfor releasing said looking element and for moving said actuating pawland said holding pawl out of engagement with said ratchet member forresetting of said ratchetmember in home position, and means associatedwith said trip mechanism for eiecting operation thereof either manuallyor electromagnetically.

3. In a mechanism for eiecting operation of a control device in responsetoa selected number of power impulses, in combination, a rotatableratchet wheel movable in one direction into a given operating limit toeffect operation of the control device and lbiased to move in anopposite direction into a selected home position, a motor magnet, anactuating pawl associated with said ratchet wheel and operable by saidmotor magnet upon energization thereof by successive current impulses toeffect step by step. advance of said ratchet wheel away from homeposition toward said operating limit, said actuating pawl being movableout of a given normal position upon energization of said motor magnetand being biased to return to normal position to effect advance of saidratchet wheel upon deenergization of said magnet, an element for lockingsaid actuating pawl upon return thereof to normal position to preventovertravel of said ratchet wheel, a holding pawl associated with saidratchet wheel to retain the same against return movement upon advancethereof away from home position, and a single trip magnet for releasingsaid locking element and for also releasingy said actuating pawl andsaid holding pawl from said ratchet wheel for resetting of said ratchetwheel in home position. f

CLYDE F. ROBBINS.

EDWIN W. SEEGER.

